By Emily Luxen
NASHVILLE, Tenn.-Tennesseans and people across the country are eagerly awaiting the Supreme Court's decision on President Barack Obama's health care program.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has been a hot topic since President Obama took office, and prompted strong words from politicians on both sides of the political aisle.
Justices will consider four primary legal issues: First, whether the individual mandate that requires most uninsured people purchase health insurance forces people into commerce; second, if that mandate is unconstitutional, does the entire law have to be struck down? Third, whether challenges to the law can be resolved now; and finally, are states being forced to participate in the Medicaid provision that would provide coverage for millions of low-income Americans?
Vanderbilt health and constitutional law professor James Blumstein said the court can uphold or strike down the entire law, or strike down parts of it.
"This is one of the biggest decisions in years," said Blumstein. "The question is whether the federal government has power to do the things they did with this context, and really raises the question about the authority of federal government to act."
Blumstein says the outcome is difficult to predict, but regardless it will have huge political implications.
"If the law does go down entirely, then the issue will be fought out in the fall election both in the Congress and with the president."
When Jamie Moeller lost her job she was without health insurance for 6 months. She struggled to find insurance because of an existing medical condition, but did qualify for the Affordable Care Act. She said she is hopeful the Supreme Court won't strike down the law.
"There just needs to be a better option," said Moeller. "It is a shame in 2012 we are still struggling with this."
The U.S. Census shows about 46 million Americans and 15 percent of Tennesseans don't have health insurance.
The Supreme Court ruling is expected Thursday morning.
